For The Stars

Chapter 8: Reconciliation

Keith headed down the empty halls, 'Don't you think Allura would be planning your rescue' echoing in his head with each step. And yes, he was certain that she would. But was it really him she would rescue, or would she simply be going after their Red Paladin? If he weren't a paladin would she give a shit about him? The easy answer was no, she had made it very clear that they were not friends. So then why did he have to risk his life to save her dumb ass? Simple, it was the right thing to do. Stupid quiznaking Voltron and their stupid quiznaking Paladin Code.

He groaned as he walked the hall. The whole situation was utterly ridiculous. Why couldn't Allura just grow up? "I'm Allura, I'm a princess. I'll do whatever the quiznak I want, even if it means putting my entire team at risk!" Keith mocked, raising his voice several octaves and sashaying his hips in an admittedly mean spirited imitation of the princess. She had seemed so reasonable at first; he could even sympathize with why she would be upset. Sure, she'd slapped him and yelled at him and called him names, but then she'd recognized that she needed to calm down and removed herself from the situation. Keith had been incredibly impressed with her maturity ... until she started being absolutely horrible to him.

The worst part of this whole thing was that they had gotten along really well. A borderline actual friendship started forming before everything went to shit. He had comforted her over the loss of her father's AI, he had backed her up in her rigid training schedule, he had even sat and listened to her talk about Altea and her people for vargas one night. For her to turn around and treat him like this – he shook his head. These thoughts weren't getting him anywhere. A gentle purr sounded in the back of his mind, telling him they did care about him. "I know you do, Red." He spoke out loud once again, not caring if anyone was around to hear him. "I love you too." Red gushed her affection in his mind and he found himself smiling as he made it back to his room. He pulled out his communicator, dreading the impending conversation with every tic that passed as he waited for Kolivan to answer.

< Identify >

"Keith Kogane, Operative 2675 – Red Paladin of Voltron" After a tic, a familiar stern face appeared.

"Blade."

"Leader." They exchanged a curt nod in greeting and Keith cut to the chase. "I have chosen to assist the other Paladins in retrieving the Princess from Emperor Zarkon's Central Command." Silence. Several tics passed before the man on the other end let out a heavy sigh.

"I expected as much, to be honest."

"I'm sorry, but I have to do this. Without Allura the Castle of Lions will run out of power eventually and Voltron wont be nearly as effective. We wont be able to wormhole, and we wont have the Castle for backup." Kolivan held up his hand to silence the onslaught of justifications. Believe it or not, he really had weighed it all out before agreeing to help back on the bridge.

"I do not agree with your decision, but I do understand why you would make it. Are you requesting assistance?"

"Yes, Leader."

"Request denied. I gave you a direct order and you have chosen to disregard it. While I can not do anything to stop you, or the other Paladins, I refuse to risk any more of our Operatives." Keith nodded in understanding.

"I know Ulaz has returned to the Thaldycon base but do we have anyone else currently stationed on Central?"

"Yes. I will not divulge who they are, in case of your capture and subsequent torture." Keith nodded again.

"I understand."

"Keith ... fail, and you will have made the chances of revolution a near impossibility. Succeed, and you will have hit the Emperor at his own front door, proving to the universe that he IS defeatable."